Someone died. Now what?
Guides, checklists, and tools for executors, caregivers, and anyone suddenly responsible after a death. Start with what matters first.
Checklist
What to do when someone dies: the complete checklist
One place to see the urgent tasks, the “do this week” items, and what can wait, built for real life when your brain is overloaded.
The first week
Notifications, death certificates, funeral decisions, and the calls you cannot skip. Start with the tasks that unlock everything else.
See all first-week articles
Postmortem Most Important What do you actually do when someone dies? It’s a question no one wants to think about—until it happens. And then, you’re suddenly in the deep end with no manual. Read guide - A Complete Guide to Death Certificates Death certificates are the key document that unlocks everything after someone dies—from probate and bank accounts to insurance claims and title transfers. This guide explains what they are, how to re… Read guide
- I Just Got Named Executor — Now What? Someone you love just died. And now you've inherited 570 hours of admin across 12+ institutions that don't talk to each other. Here's what to do first, what can wait, and how to survive it. Read guide
- Your First 30 Days - The Vendors Nobody Tells You About Everyone talks about the funeral. Nobody talks about the locksmith, the notary, or what to do with three cats and a parrot. Here's the unsexy survival guide for the hardest month of your life. Read guide
The first month
Accounts, mail, benefits, identity protection, and the slower paperwork that still has deadlines.
See all first-month articles
Your First 30 Days - The Vendors Nobody Tells You About Everyone talks about the funeral. Nobody talks about the locksmith, the notary, or what to do with three cats and a parrot. Here's the unsexy survival guide for the hardest month of your life. Read guide - Estate EIN: Why Every Executor Needs One When someone dies, their Social Security number is retired—but the estate still needs a tax ID to function. This guide explains what an estate EIN is, when it’s required, how to apply, and how execut… Read guide
- Protecting the Estate - Best Privacy, Security & Fraud Prevention When someone dies, their identity becomes a target. Scammers mine obituaries, open credit cards, and file tax returns in the deceased's name. Here's what to lock down — and when. Read guide
- The Home - Estate Cleanout, Sales & What to Do With All the Stuff The average American home has over 300,000 items. When someone passes, every single one needs a decision. Here's how to break the cleanout into stages so it doesn't break you. Read guide
Estate settlement and the whole process
Probate, property, taxes, assets, and distribution, broken into steps a tired person can finish.
See all estate settlement articles
Executor FAQ: Duties, Probate, and What You Need to Know Being named executor can feel like a big job — and it is. This guide breaks down what executors actually do, how probate works, what expenses they handle, and how to manage the role without getting o… Read guide - How Long Does Probate Take? Probate length depends on the estate, state laws, and whether there’s a valid will. It can wrap up in weeks or drag on for years. Here’s what impacts the timeline, the steps involved, and strategies… Read guide
- Probate FAQ: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Avoid It Probate can be confusing, costly, and time-consuming. This FAQ breaks down what probate is, when you need it, how long it takes, and ways to avoid it—so you know what to expect and how to plan ahead. Read guide
- Executor Tax Checklist: What Expenses Are Deductible After Death Executors often miss valuable tax deductions after death. This checklist explains which expenses are deductible, where to claim them, and how Forms 1040 and 706 differ—so you don’t leave money on the… Read guide
You don’t have to track all of this in your head.
Good Grief turns the chaos into a personalized task list. Share it with family, store documents securely, and see what’s next without another 2 a.m. search spiral.
Download the checklistPlan ahead
The best time to reduce future stress is before a crisis. Start small, you don’t need a perfect binder overnight.
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Pre-planning conversations
How to talk about wishes, documents, and passwords before you need them in a hurry.
Read the guide -
Organize important papers
A simple filing approach so your future self, or your family, can find what matters.
Read the guide -
Build your support list
Professionals, friends, and online tools worth bookmarking before loss arrives.
Read the guide
More ways to learn
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Open printablePrintable: Most Important
A one-page list of the tasks that matter most in the first days. Keep it on the fridge.
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Explore more readingDeath reading list
Books and essays we return to when words help more than checklists.
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Take the quizDead wrong: a quiz about death
A gentle quiz to surface myths and facts about what happens after someone dies.
FAQ
Questions people ask after someone dies
Short answers for the searches that usually happen at the worst possible time.
What should I do first after someone dies?
Start with the immediate tasks that unlock everything else: notify close family, arrange care for dependents and pets, secure property, choose a funeral home if needed, and order death certificates.
What resources are included here?
This page collects first-week guides, first-month guides, probate and estate settlement articles, planning-ahead resources, and a free Good Grief checklist.
Is the Good Grief checklist free?
Yes. Good Grief offers a free checklist to help you organize next steps after a death and decide what needs attention now.
Do all estates need probate?
No. Probate depends on state law, account ownership, beneficiary designations, trusts, and the type and value of assets left behind.
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